Pony Club Pledge“As a member of the United States Pony Club, I stand for the best in sportsmanship as well as in horsemanship. I shall compete for the enjoyment of the game well played and take winning or losing in stride,
remembering that without good manners and good temper, sport loses its cause for being. I shall endeavor to maintain the best tradition of the ancient and noble skill of horsemanship, always treating my horse with consideration due a partner.” — The Pony Club Pledge What is Pony Club?
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Welcome to Baywood Pony Club
Baywood Pony Club is the Olympia area chapter of the United States Pony Club. Our mission is to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies in order to develop responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence in our members.
What is pony club about? A happy child on a happy horse! The cornerstones of our foundation are education, safety, sportsmanship, stewardship, and FUN. Members learn riding, the care of horses and mounted sports. The skills, habits and values instilled through horsemanship will apply to every part of their life. Although there is no minimum age, we require that the child can read and has an attention span of at least 30 minutes so that they can get the most benefit from our program. We are always recruiting new members! What Makes Pony Club Different? The mission of Pony Club is to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence. Members of USPC have joined an organization dedicated to producing well-rounded horsemen and horsewomen and one that has produced many of the past and current Olympic and International riders. USPC is unique because its educational programs place equal emphasis on the teaching of riding skills, horse-care fundamentals, and team participation with sportsmanship. From the moment youth join USPC until they graduate, they are part of a broad network of activities and educational programs that promote the health and safety of both horse and rider. USPC is dedicated to developing knowledgeable, competent, responsible, and caring horsemen. Through participation in club and center activities, members begin to work their way up through the “Ratings” established by the Standards of Proficiency. At the “Ratings” members demonstrate their riding and Horse Management skills. Another wonderful part of being a Pony Club member is participating in competitive rallies. Pony Club rallies provide an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in an atmosphere of cooperation, fun and teamwork. A rally allows Pony Club members to test their skills against others. In addition, rallies are educational experiences that expose participants to new ideas and ways of doing things. Co-operation, confidence, and leadership are all traits that Pony Club develops in its members and these are best built up through teaching. Teaching is the best way for members to work together, gain self-confidence in their skills, and learn how to lead others. It is also a great way to really cement what they have learned. Peer-to-peer teaching is a very important part of Pony Club. Most clubs and centers have a mentoring program in place where an older Pony Club member is assigned to a younger member. The older member can answer questions (or refer the question to someone who can), encourage participation, explain the intricacies of Pony Club, and to just to be there for the new member. As new members become integrated into the club or center and progress in their learning, they in turn are expected to help newer and younger members. As members reach the C ratings, they will begin to learn how to formally teach. They will begin with teaching Horse Management skills and advance to teaching riding skills. With the help of instructors and other adults in the club or center, members will learn how to make and implement a lesson plan, how to handle the unexpected (i.e., uncooperative mount, distressed child, etc.), how to evaluate the progress of students, and so much more. Here are a couple links to help you get more information. Prospective Member Book New member booklet Visit our About us Page to learn more about our club, and contact Rachel Atkins, the DC for Baywood with further questions. We look forward to meeting you! |
